UK coroner is urged to study all options in Russian’s death

LONDON (AP) — The insurance company for a Russian businessman who died near his home in London six years ago is urging a coroner to rule whether or not he was murdered using poison. Attorneys…

LONDON (AP) — The insurance company for a Russian businessman who died near his home in London six years ago is urging a coroner to rule whether or not he was murdered using poison.

Attorneys for Legal & General asked Judge Nicholas Hilliard on Friday to consider all possibilities following an inquest into the death of Alexander Perepilichnyy, who collapsed while jogging in November 2012. Police initially said the 44-year-old died of natural causes, but foul play concerns increased after an ex-Russian spy was targeted with a nerve agent earlier this year.

Experts told the inquest they couldn’t rule out poisoning, though none was found in Perepilichnyy’s body.

Perepilichnyy had been helping Kremlin critic Bill Browder expose an alleged $230 million Russian tax fraud. Hilliard will record his verdict at a later date.